Operations Management Bachelors Degree Online
Is an Operations Management Degree for You?
Students who major in operations management are equipped with the skills to run complex organizations such as distribution centers, retail chains and computer-integrated firms. During the program, they apply their knowledge of different business-related disciplines, including financial accounting, business marketing and, of course, operations management, often using case studies in order to hone their skills. They learn to control inventory, schedule projects, allocate projects and ensure quality and efficiency are optimal. Operations management students become familiar with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and project management software that will assist them in their daily responsibilities. Because of the scope of their duties, they must possess solid organization, communication and teamwork skills, and must be detail oriented. Ultimately, an organization's ability or inability to function properly is due to the operations manager's competency or lack thereof.
Advice for Earning Your Operations Management Degree Online
Earning your operations management degree online is every bit as challenging as earning it at a brick-and-mortar school. You must commit yourself to learning the material at a steady pace amid the other responsibilities you encounter in your life. Because you will be working hard for the degree and expect to see results, it's important that you ensure your prospective school is accredited by a respected accrediting agency. Accreditation is a measure that ensures colleges are performing to the satisfactory educational standards established by the accrediting agencies. You can check a prospective school's status by perusing the U.S. Department of Education's Database of Postsecondary Accredited Institutions. Also be sure to check the business school's accreditation with the four major accreditation agencies; specifically, the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) accredit online programs. If your school and program are accredited, employers will be more likely to respect your degree and thus covet your knowledge and skills.
Required Courses
Operations management students must be proficient and well-rounded in the business disciplines. Therefore they enroll in courses such as financial accounting, managerial accounting, microeconomics, macro economics, marketing, business ethics and business law. Their upper level schedules may consist of operations management, principles of management and organization, business strategy and policy, leadership skills for managers, personnel and human resources management, comparative international management, and compensation administration. In order to properly oversee and organization, an operations manager must possess solid math skills, so students are required to take courses such as calculus and statistics. Additionally, some students are required to take writing courses, as communication is essential in management occupations.
Common Career Paths
In the past, operations management jobs were associated with manufacturing and plant management, but that has changed as more graduates have entered the service sector and taken jobs in corporate settings. The increasing use of technology to handle complex business operations has resulted in more demand for the occupation, so a degree in operations management provides graduates with a multitude of options. Students have become entrepreneurs, tax analysts, human resource managers, account managers and international consultants. More specific positions they may occupy include operations director, demand specialist, inventory specialist, logistics manager, supplier relationship manager, customer service manager, procurement manager and distribution manager. Of course, entry level workers aren't given management responsibility upon graduation; it is earned with experience in the appropriate entry-level jobs.
Starting Salary: $34,159 to $51,954
Mid-Career Salary: $50,515 to $81,015
Learn More About a Career in Operations Management
